Power firm launches grade school workbooks

MANILA, Philippines - The San Roque Power Corp. (SRPC) with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Synergeia Foundation recently launched three workbooks for elementary pupils, part of its program on reading, mathematics and science proficiency program aimed at bringing quality education to school children in its host communities.

At least 9,000 workbooks were distributed to Grades II and III pupils in 89 public elementary schools in San Manuel and San Nicolas towns in Pangasinan and in Itogon town in Benguet.

SRPC vice president for corporate social responsibility Tom Valdez told newsmen this is one way of helping improve the basic foundation of these school children as he emphasized that the workbooks are just supplementary materials for the children’s learning.

SRPC operates the San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam situated in the boundaries of San Manuel and San Nicolas towns in Pangasinan and Itogon town in Benguet.

The program started in 2007 with the distribution of workbooks developed by Synergeia, DedEd and the Eskwelahan sang Katawhan-Negros, Inc.

In 2010, the SRPC encouraged DepEd Pangasinan Division II and DepEd Benguet to develop their own workbooks.

The workbooks Science and Health III, The World of Language and Reading, and Think, Speak and Write English were written by teachers from Pangasinan Division II and Itogon District II.

“In the initial program we used workbooks from Negros. So in 2010, we said why don’t we develop our own books that are culture-based, done by the teachers here that fit our culture here in Pangasinan and Benguet,” Valdez said.

He said that there is noticeable improvement in the children’s learning since they launched the program in 2007.

Assessment results show that the number of non-readers from three municipalities has dropped while the number of advanced readers has constantly increased.

Attending the launching were Division Schools Supts. Viraluz Raguindin and Nancy Lumbas of Pangasinan Division II and Benguet, respectively; Katsutoshi Aguro, SRPC senior vice president for technical matters, SRPC officials and employees, Mayor Rebecca Saldivar of San Nicolas, teachers who helped in making the workbooks, and pupils from the Bobon Elementary School.

The books feature the culture of Pangasinan and Benguet and are intended to reinforce learning as they cover lessons for the entire school year.

Also included in the program are the teachers’ training, parent-leaders’ training and strengthening of school governance.

Other SRPC education programs include Donate a Book, Make Reading Fun, Arts and Crafts Workshop and Skills Training for out of school youths.